Rescue safety ring and safety loop



Aug. 2, 1966 L. CRESSMAN RESCUE SAFETY RING AND SAFETY LOOP Filed June 15, 1964 INVENTOR.

z UfiZ E C'ZfJ/W/V United States Patent 3,263,638 RESCUE SAFETY RING AND SAFETY LOOP Luther Cressman, Burke, S. Dak. 57523 Filed June 15, 1964, Ser. No. 375,072 1 Claim. (Cl. 114-53) My invention is directed toward devises which, when secured to a vessel such as a ship or submarine, can be used in raising the vessel, if sunk in water, to the surface of the water.

It is an object of my invention to provide new and improved devices of the character indicated.

Another object is to provide new and improved devices of the character indicated which take the form of safety rings or safety loops.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of my invention will now be explained with reference both to this specification and to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a submarine incorporating my invention. Figure 12.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view partially cut away showing one of the safety rings, which is incorporated on ships and are recessed into the hull, thus streamlining the surface.

FIGURE 3 is a view partially in cross section of a pontoon used with my invention.

FIGURE 4 is a cross section through 44 of FIG- URE 1 showing the invention in operative use.

Referring now to FIGURE 1 there is shown a vessel such as a submarine carrying a plurality of metal safety loops 12 welded to the bull in spaced apart positions.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, hollow boxes containing pin, figure 20, which is welded both top and bottom to the box around which is ring, figure 22, and to which hook, figure 30, is hooked to make positive contact to sunken vessel and pontoon, figure 26, but is neither airtight or water tight. Each box carries a vertical prong around which is fitted a ring 22, spring biased at 24 FPIC to hold the ring in the box. Also cover, figure 18, is spring biased to keep same closed.

If the vessel sinks, one or more pontoons 26 are lowered into the Water to a depth almost equal to that of the ship. A cable 28 secured to the bottom of each pontoon carries at its free end a hook 311 having a spring biased lock 32.

A diver descends to the sunken vessel and attaches hook 30 either to a loo-p 12, or opens a lid 18 to secure hook 30 to a ring 22. When a sufficient number of pontoons are so employed, and the pontoons are thereafter permitted to rise to the surface, the lifting force thus applied to the vessel also causes same to rise to the surface.

The pontoons are hollow and have an opening at figure 40, which allows water to enter when valve on hose, figure 44, is opened on board the rescue vessel. Pontoon 26 will fill with water and sink. To discharge water from pontoon this valve is closed and valve on air pump is opened and air forced through hose, figure 44.

While I have described my invention with particular reference to the drawings, my protection is to be limited only by the terms of the claim which follows.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by letters Patent:

A vessel having a metal hull, a box secured to said hull, a prong vertically disposed within said box and welded at both ends to said box, a lid pivotally connected to the box, a ring mounted around said prong and spring loaded to remain in said box, and a buoyant pontoon adapted to be secured to said ring to raise said vessel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1918 Arazoza 114-52 12/1929 Ellsberg 114-53 

